Match-box.



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UNITED STATES u PATENT OFFICE.

JOI'IN GOODWIN LOCKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATCH-Blox.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Pat-ent No. 656,557, dated August 21, 1900.

4 nppnmion inea June 9,1900. serial No.`19,71a. (Nomaden) To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known thatI, 'JoHNGooDwIN Looks, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match- Boxes; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompany-- ing drawings, and to the iigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. j l

My invention relates to match-boxes of the class which permit of the ignition of a mat-ch as it is withdrawn from the box, thus avoiding the defacing of walls or other surfaces by Fig. 4 is a view in perspective ofthe inner section or compartment of the box. Figf`5` illustrates a modification of the filling-piece.

Referring to Fig. 3, the `referencenumeral 1 designates a strip of4 thin sheet metal, from one end of which project .oppositely-extending wings 2 and 4 and 5` designate side extensions of the stripA 1, which are roughened or sanded on' their inner surfaces, asshown at 6. When the blank is bent to form the box, the ends 7 and 8 of the strip 1 constitute the ends of the box, the wings 2 and 3 form the upper portions of theA sides, the exten' sions 4 and5 the lowermovable portions of the sides, andthe central portion of the strip 1 forms the bottom of the box.

9 designates a rectangular plate of sheet metal riveted or otherwise secured to the boX bottom and bent up parallel to the sides thereof to form the central compartment 10, the spaces between the sides of the plate 9 Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank from u which the casing or body of the boxis formed. ,j

and the extensions 4 and 5 forming the side compartments 11 of the box.

The sides12 of the central compartment 10 are preferably corrugated vertically to form spaces conforming to the shape and size of a match, and the outer surfaces of the sides 12 are roughened or sanded, as shown at 13, opposite the roughened portions 6 on the inner surfaces of the extensions 4 and 5. I preferably secure within the side comfpartments 11, at the bottoms thereof, spacing or filling pieces 14, which may consist of angie-plates, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, riveted or otherwise secured to the side extensions 4 and 5, or curved spring-plates 14a, secured to the sides 12 and bearing against the inner sides of the extensions 4 and 5.

The primary purpose of the filling-pieces 14 is to project the outer ends of the matches contained in the side compartments above those in the central compartment, so that they will be more easily grasped by the thumb and finger. j The matches contained in the central-'compartment 10 are not adapted to be ignited by their withdrawal from the box, but are designed to be reserved for use when it is desired to remove a match without lighting it.

The side extensions ,4 and 5, as illustrated in Fig. 1, are disconnected from the ends and upper portions 2 and 3 to adapt them to be pressed inward'to confine the head of the match to be withdrawn between the coacting igniting-surfaces, and these side portions 4 and 5 are sufficiently resilient to cause them to spring back or retract themselves when pressure thereon is" relieved. In case the spring filling-pieces 1,4 are employed they assist in this retraction of the sides.

While any suitable cover may be provided for the box, I preferably employ the wellknown hinged cap shown in` Figs. 1 and 2, provided withpa socket 15 to receive a catchlug 16, projecting from the edge of the box.

The utility and operation ofthe device will be readily understood. When it is desired to withdraw a match and at the same time ignite it, the cover is raised and a match from one of the side compartments l1 is grasped and pulled out, the spring side piece 4 or 5 adjacent thereto being at the same time Ico ' pressed inward to bind the head of the match f between the roughened surfaces.

It will be obvious that the matches contained in the central compartment may be readily Withdrawn without igniting them.

To reduce the size of the box, I may omit the central compartment and employ in lieu thereof merelya central partition, roughened on both sides, which would serve to divide the box into two side compartments and provide the required roughened scratching-sur-- faces.

I claim- Y l. A match-box comprising acentralcompartment the sides of which are roughened on their outer surfaces; and side compartments formed by the walls of the central compartment and outer sides, each consisting of an upper stationary portion and a lower movable resilient portion roughened on its inner surface.

2. The combination with a match-box consisting of a central compartment and a compartment on either side of said central compartment, of spacing and filling pieces arranged Within the side compartment, each of said spacing and filling pieces projecting a suitable distance above the bottom of the box, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

3. A match-box comprising an outer casing formed from a single strip of sheet metal having lateral end projections forming the upper portions of the sides of the box, and side eX- tensions forming the lower movable portions of the sides of the box; in combination with a central compartment secured to the bottom of the box; and filling-pieces between the walls of the central compartment and the lower portions of the sides of the box.

4. A match-box comprising ablank of sheet metal bent to form the bottom, ends and sides of the box, in combination with a centralgcompartment consisting of vertically-corrugated sides the spaces between said corrugated sides and the outer sides of the box forming side compartments.

' 5. Amatch-box comprising an outer casing, each of the sides of which consists of a stationary portion and a movable portion, the

. inner surface of the latter being roughened;

in combination with a cover, and verticallycorrugated plates arranged parallel to the' outer sides of the boxand roughened on their outer surfaces, and filling-pieces arranged between the corrugated plates and the sides of the box.

6. A match-box, comprising a casing divided into two compartments by means of a rou ghened plate or plates, the sides of the casing each consisting of an upper stationary porgtion and a lower, movable, resilient portion roughened on its inner surface.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN GGODWIN LOCKE.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK E. YUNG, WM. J. WALTON. 

